Country Living Articles:
2. "Buying or Living in the Country: Have You Thought About...the Land?"
|
|
|
2. "Buying or Living in the Country: Have You Thought About...the Land?" |
 |
||
|
By Glacierland Resource Conservation and Development Council and David C. Such, University of Wisconsin - Extension |
||
|
Note: This is the second in a series of articles focusing on country living and information that should be considered by those thinking about rural residency. City subdivisions are cleared, drained, leveled and provided with streets and utilities. The natural characteristics of the site usually do not constrain landowner options. In contrast, soils, geology, topography, drainage patterns and type of vegetation cover can constrain the use of rural property. Understanding the physical capability of land is an important consideration in making future decisions regarding the property. Knowing about the soils on a property will provide clues for the property uses. For example, poorly drained soils may be too wet for residential development or for certain types of ornamental vegetation or agricultural crops. A soil survey provides detailed information on the type of soil on the property, limitations for various uses and expected productivity. Almost half of the soils in Wisconsin are not suitable for conventional septic systems. Others are very prone to erosion. Soil surveys are available for most counties through the County Land Conservation Department, Federal Natural Resources Conservation Services or in most public libraries. The geology beneath a property is also important. In some areas of Wisconsin the bedrock is covered by little, if any, soil. In other places glaciers deposited hundreds of feet of a sand, clay, gravel and rock mixture over the bedrock. Bedrock conditions may effect the way the land can be used. Conventional septic systems or agriculture may not be possible in areas where bedrock is close to the surface. In addition, certain types of bedrock yield little water for rural wells while others provide an abundant groundwater supply. Glaciers or huge ice masses that covered most of Wisconsin as recently as 10,000 years ago are largely responsible for the rural landscape. Property topography, such as hills and valleys, will play a role in how the land is used. A topographic map is a useful tool in determining property slopes and elevations. Learning the vegetative cover on the land will be helpful in determining future uses. For example, jack pines and scrub oak grow on sandy soils where poor droughty soils cannot support other trees. The presence of white pine and tamarack often indicate acidic soil. White cedar, tamarack and red osier dogwood are indicative of wet soils. Before buying or building in rural areas near water, wetlands or drainage ways, a number of factors should be considered. Precipitation rates in Wisconsin vary dramatically season to season and year to year. A rural landowner or buyer should understand the normal fluctuations of both surface and groundwater. A lake property owner who builds a cottage or home during a wet year may need an extra 100 feet of pier to reach the water in a dry year. A homeowner who builds in a dry year may discover that the basement has become a big well when the groundwater table rises in response to heavy rains. Some lakes and rivers may have wide fluctuations in water levels. Here again, knowing the type of vegetation may offer some indicative clues as to how high the water rises. Usually it is safe to build a lakeside home near a mature oak tree. The presence of fast-growing trees, like aspen or birch, mean only that the water has not been high recently. The presence of willow is a definite warning that high water levels are likely. Understanding the physical resources associated with a rural property is an important consideration for landowners. While there are undoubtedly many more questions about living or buying in the country, seeking answers about the topics already discussed should provide a foundation of information upon which intelligent decisions can be based. To assist in finding answers and/or for more information, contact Greg Hines, Coordinator, Glacierland RC&D, 3086 Voyager Drive, Suite 1, Green Bay, WI 54311. Telephone 920/465-3006. Fax 920/465-3010. Email: greg.hines@wi.usda.gov Revised 11.03 |
||
|
|